Wayne County approves closeout‑period extensions for six infrastructure and redevelopment projects

The Wayne County Commission approved amendments to six intergovernmental and subrecipient agreements that extend project closeout dates and modify Exhibit B reporting details so towns and partners can complete work into 2026.

The amendments, considered together under a single motion, cover projects in multiple municipalities: an amendment for Canton Township’s Cherry Hill Village Town Square, phase 4 downtown development in Huron Township, improvements to Cassie Fieldhouse and Rouge River boat launch in Melvindale, a Southgate Tower project, an amendment to a subrecipient agreement with the Wayne County Land Bank for blighted property demolition, and a drainage‑maintenance amendment for the North Branch Ecorse Creek Drain.

Why it matters: The vote extends county project timelines from the original 10/31/2025 deadlines to October 2026 for the listed batch‑2 projects and allows partners additional time to submit final invoices and complete restoration and punch‑list work.

County staff summary

Anthony Cartwright, interim director of the Economic Development Department, and an assistant director for economic vitality summarized the batch‑2 projects and told commissioners that four of the county’s earlier batch‑1 projects have fully expended county funds. The amendments affect the six projects that still require closeout work, and staff said they expect most remaining invoices to be submitted and paid by early next year.

On the Huron downtown project, staff said the county’s contribution is $275,000; Cartwright described a larger community cost structure for that project but clarified the county’s share during a commissioner question.

Blighted‑property demolition: scale and reuse

Commissioners pressed staff for details about the land‑bank demolition program. Staff said the subrecipient agreement authorizes up to $7.5 million in demolition work, with $2.5 million to $7.5 million slated for use in Highland Park under the agreement; staff estimated the land bank will spend roughly $4.5 million to $5.0 million of that total in Highland Park.

Cartwright said the demolition program will remove about 100 to 150 structures countywide, with an estimated 80–85% of the demolitions located in Highland Park. "So we're looking at about a 100 a 120 to a 140 structures in Highland Park to be demolished," staff said, and added the county has purchased about 50 properties from Highland Park for demolition as part of the program.

Staff said the majority of lots are single‑family and that the land bank will offer in‑field side lots to adjacent property owners under existing land‑bank programs; other demolished lots will be offered for redevelopment following neighborhood planning with Highland Park officials. Commercial structures make up about 10% of the demolition inventory.

North Branch Ecorse Creek Drain progress

Elmika Steele, deputy director of the Wayne County Department of Public Services, described the North Branch Ecorse Creek Drain project as divided into multiple "reaches." Steele said the county has completed clearing and is in restoration or channel‑cleaning phases across different reaches and that multiple contractors are working simultaneously. She said the retention and restoration phase can delay final payouts because the county holds retainage until grass, fences and other restoration items are confirmed.

Steele noted the project team maintains a public tracking map and construction photos on the project website (staff spelled the site during the meeting as nbecd dot com) to show completed, current and upcoming work.

Vote and next steps

The amendments were moved as a single block by Commissioner Kenlock and seconded by Commissioner Palamara. The commission approved the grouped amendments on a recorded voice vote.

Ending

Staff said the extension to October 2026 will allow final invoices, restoration and punch‑list work to be completed and that staff expects most county funds for the projects to be expended by early 2026. For the demolition program, staff said detailed inventory lists and maps are available on request and that the land bank will advertise vacant lots through its standard channels when lots are ready for sale or redevelopment.